One simple upgrade can make charging all of your mobile devices less of a headache

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Amazon Apple's proprietary cables have always been something people put up with. Lightning has had its benefits over the more universally accepted (and comparatively basic) microUSB, and it's clearly a good bit of business for the iPhone maker, but it results in extra clutter for anyone with a mobile device that isn't Apple-made. It often means extra costs, too.

The nascent USB-C standard has the potential to unify the two worlds someday, but if rumors about the forthcoming iPhone are anything to go by, Apple may be putting even more emphasis on the Lightning port than it already does. For now, if you own iOS and Android (or BlackBerry, or Windows Phone) devices, you still have to keep track of separate cables.

Unless, that is, you use a hybrid. Something like the Skiva USBLink Lightning Duo has a microUSB connector and Lightning adapter built right in, giving you the means to charge each device type in one centralized location, and saving you port space in the process.

It's hard to say this'll be as durable as a dedicated Lightning or microUSB cable, and it can't charge two devices at once, but it is MFi-certified, and at $11, it's slightly cheaper than you'd get buying separately. It should work with most cases, too, though Skiva says it doesn't play nice with the iPhone 6 variant of the Lifeproof Fre (which is especially tight-fitting).

Plus, this particular line has a 4.3 rating after more than 1,220 user reviews on Amazon. Some of that appears to be inflated by one-review accounts, but in general the feedback is very much positive. If you'd rather try your luck with an alternative, though, this 2-in-1 option from Dodocool only has a 3.5 rating, but did earn an A from iLounge (and a subsequent rec from the same reviewer at The Wirecutter).

Either way, if you have to charge across operating systems, or you just need a space-saving spare for the road, this should simplify a needless complication.

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